7 Best Keychain Flashlight Reviews: The Most Powerful and Portable

By Diana Heath

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A keychain flashlight is one of those portable gadgets that you cannot live without. Whether you are struggling to open your front door in the dark, changing a flat tire, or hiking along the trail, a keychain flashlight gives you a quick and powerful source of illumination on demand.

Unlike standard flashlights that are big and bulky, keychain flashlights are compact and some mini keychain flashlights weigh as little as 1-oz and are only 1-inch in length. But do not be fooled by their diminutive size, with massive advances in LED technology and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, most flashlights are very powerful and some can even project their beam up to one mile away. This may sound impressive, so if you are not convinced, have at look at the Finware keychain flashlight below, which comes in a very handy pack for an impressive price and has a powerful beam. You can test it to see if its super-powers are true.

Our Pick for the Best Keychain Flashlight

Olight i3S Brass Mini EDC Keychain Flashlight

There is a lot to love about this beautiful flashlight. It is made out of solid brass with an anti-scratch, long-lasting gold titanium coating. The high-intensity LED bulb gives you an extremely bright light that can reach up to 50 meters and Olight's intelligent power saving technology gives you maximum LED and battery life. As well as buying one for yourself, you may even want to buy one or two as gifts for family or friends as the flashlight comes in its own sturdy carrying case, and at an affordable price it is extremely good value for money.

Choosing the Best Keychain Flashlight

Not all keychain flashlights are created equal so here are five specifications to consider when you are looking to purchase a keychain flashlight:

1. Super Powerful LED Bulbs

These days most flashlights, regardless of size, use LED (Light Emitting Diodes) bulbs that are superior to the incandescent light bulb. LED bulbs may be smaller than their widely used predecessor, the incandescent light bulb, but they do not use as much energy and they do not have a filament that can burn out. Even in a small keychain flashlight, a LED bulb is long lasting and it can give you the strongest and most efficient source of brightness. Flashlights that contain LED lights are measured in lumens. A LED bulb can range from 9 lumens, and if they contain a Cree XP-G2 S3 high performance LED bulb like the Nitecore TIP, the LED can give you 18O or even 360 lumens, which is one the strongest levels of illumination a keychain flashlight can produce.

The quality of the LED bulb can determine the brightness of the beam and the distance it can reach. Some flashlights can reach up to 80 yards while others claim the spotlight beam can be seen from a mile away, which is about 240 feet, which is quite impressive when you consider the small size of the keychain flashlight.

2. Beam Type

A keychain flashlight beam can be projected either as a spot beam or a floodlight beam.

The spot beam can be used to light up a small area and works very well over long distances. You can use the spot beam for walking along a forest track. A floodlight covers a wider area and is projected in a cone shape. The floodlight is useful for working on an outdoors DIY home project, working on your car, or walking your dog at night.

3. Brightness Settings

Some keychain flashlights allow you to adjust the level of brightness, from low, medium to high, which is very handy for two reasons:

You can save battery power by using a low or medium setting.

It gives you more control over your choice of brightness. You may want to use low light when you are reading in bed, or the medium setting for working in low light conditions, or you can use the high setting for walking at night.

One thing to remember about brightness settings:

If you use the high setting for too long (more than 30 minutes) it can drain the battery or it could cause the LED bulb to overheat. Even though LED bulbs are not as susceptible to overheating as much as an incandescent bulb can be, you can still damage the LED light from overusing the high setting.

If you only need the light for occasional use, or for a back-up or emergency lighting, then you really only need a simple flashlight that just has an on and off switch. But if you want the whole works or you will be using the flashlight a lot for outdoor use, then choose a flashlight that gives you two or more brightness settings.

4. Battery Life

As well as the level of brightness and quality of the flashlight's beam, battery life is important as well. The ideal battery is long lasting and gives you the longest runtime, which equals the number of hours that the battery can last before it dies. Some keychain flashlights come with disposable AAA batteries or button cell batteries that are used in wrist watches. An alkaline battery can give you 8 hours, which is ideal for EDC, but there are keychain flashlights that have strong NiMH or lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged via a USB port and can give you a run time of 90 minutes on high mode and over 46 hours on lower mode.

5. Waterproof and Impact Resistance

As keychain flashlights are small and some have a slimline design, they can fall out of your hands and get damaged. If you are using them outdoors, in wet conditions or while you are hiking, they may be exposed to harsh conditions. The best type of flashlight is one that is made from a strong and durable material like solid brass alloy with high heat conductivity and low electrical resistivity, anti-scratch titanium gold coating, or HAIII military grade hard-anodized aluminum. If they are made from durable material, they can withstand any hard knocks, survive being dropped from a great height, or they are temporarily submerged in water, they will keep on supplying you with bright light.

Best Keychain Flashlight Reviews

1. Finware 5 Pack Mini LED Keychain Flashlight

The 5 Pack of Mini LED Black Keychain Flashlights from Finware is such a great idea. Wherever you go you can have a portable source of light with just the press of a button and the mini flashlight is so light at just 0.2 ounces and measuring at 1.5 inches in length. You can attach one to your keychain, leave one in the car, keep one in your bedroom, leave one in your handbag or backpack and use one in your garage.

At just under $10 they are so affordable, you may even want to stock up on a few packs in case of an emergency or give some to your kids.

The Finware keychain flashlight projects a very bright white light from the 10 lumens LED bulb that can be seen up to one mile away, and it requires two CR2016 lithium-ion batteries that can give you up to 12 hours of battery life. There are two operating modes, one button to turn it on and the other button provides a constant source of light without having to hold the button down.

What we like:

High quality

Handy 5 pack of keychain flashlights

Excellent price

Small and lightweight

Powerful light

2 lithium-ion batteries included

What we don't like:

2. Prometheus Lights Beta QRv2 Keychain Flashlight

Have you heard the myth about the god Prometheus who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mankind? Unlike the mythical Greek god, there is no need for you to steal fire or light as the Prometheus Lights Beta Qrv2 Keychain Flashlight has the power to light up the night and it is very good value for money.

The slimline flashlight provides you with a super strong natural looking beam from the high-quality High CRI (92+) (Color Rendering Index) dual mode LED bulbs and a smart microprocessor controls the intensity of the beam.

Prometheus Lights make their flashlights from solid brass and they come in four styles: stylish black nickel, beautiful brass, shiny copper, or nickel with a silver finish, and the split ring attachment is made from strong 302 stainless steel. This is one tough flashlight that can withstand rough conditions and it fits comfortably in your hand. The flashlight has three settings low, medium and high and the power of the bulb ranges from 1 lumen for the low setting, 15 lumens on the medium setting and 80 lumens on the high setting, and it only weighs 1 oz.

The Prometheus keychain flashlight is tagged as “The World's First Quick-Release AAA Keychain Flashlight”, which means the push-pull quick release system gives you easy access to the flashlight when you need it. There are three levels of brightness that can be activated by just twisting the end of the light.

To get a long lasting lighting performance out of the flashlight, the manufacturer recommends that you use AAA NiMh rechargeable batteries. You can use lithium batteries, but not lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

What we like:

Very good value for money

Intelligent light control

Slimline design

Natural looking beam

Quick release system

Superior beam quality

4 stylish designs

Solid construction

Feels comfortable in the hand

Very good battery power

What we don't like:

3. BYB Pack of 4 Keychain Flashlights

Good things come in little packages. The BYB pack of 4 mini Keychain Flashlights are very powerful and each flashlight produces a strong beam from the 9 lumens LED bulb, and its shiny aluminum casing is very durable and you have a choice of four different colors: black, silver, red and blue.

The best thing about these mini lighting dynamos is that they are extremely affordable. Super powerful, super strong and super attractive, what a great package deal! As well as purchasing a pack for yourself, they also make great gifts for friends and family.

The mini flashlights are very easy to use, with a simple on/off push button and they require 3x standard AAA batteries. They are so compact and light measuring 3.5-inches by 1-inch and weighing only 1-oz,

The flashlight has a strong nylon lanyard, so you can hang one on your keychain, carry one in your pocket, handbag or backpack, store one in your glove compartment or storage pocket in your camping tent, use for one for illumination when you are cooking up a storm on your barbecue. The flashlight is very easy to use, just press the button on the tail cap to turn it on or off.

All of the flashlights are backed by an 18-month warranty and 90-day money back guarantee. If you have problems with your flashlights, BYB's excellent customer service team will offer you a full refund or replacement, no questions asked!

The flashlight can handle rough handling, so if you drop it or bash it around while you are hiking, exploring a cave or patrolling a carpark, the tough aircraft aluminum casing with an anodized finish is impact and shock resistant.

A very versatile flashlight, the Streamlight is compact and measures 1.5 inches and it weighs 0.36 oz, so it will easily fit on your keychain, in your pocket, or you can even use the very handy snap-hook on the back of the light to attach it to your backpack for easy access, or even hang onto your belt while you are walking the dog.

This super Nanolight gives you a powerful lighting performance as the 10 lumens 5mm parabolic-shaped LED bulb produces an extremely bright beam that provides 100.000 hours over the lifetime of the bulb. It is easy to use, just rotate the top of the flashlight to turn it on and off.

The flashlight is powered by 4 alkaline button cells (which are included in the box), and they can give you 8 hours of runtime, and the light is covered by a lifetime warranty.

What we like:

Impact, weatherproof, and shock resistant aircraft aluminum casing

Strong aircraft aluminum casing

Ideal for outdoor applications

Great price

Very powerful beam

Up to 8 hours of battery runtime per use

100,000-hour lifetime

Compact

Lightweight

Versatile

Easy one-handed snap hook

Lifetime warranty

What we don't like:

5. Olight i3S Brass / Cu Mini EDC Keychain Flashlight

Solid and compact, and able to deliver a powerful beam of light, the Olight i3S Keychain Flashlight is extremely good value for money. The flashlight is made from an attractive brass alloy that features high heat conductivity and low electrical resistivity and the anti-scratch titanium gold coating will retain its shiny gold appearance for long term application.

The EDC flashlight is very strong and durable and it has the highest waterproof rating of IPX8 and a drop resistance of up to 1.5M. With a smooth slimline design, it will fit comfortably in your hand and it has a sturdy clip to attach it to your belt or backpack, so it is a great choice for everyday lighting applications, whether you need to patrol a carpark, find your way to the camping ground, or for hunting or fishing.

Featuring an all new design, the elegant flashlight comes with sturdy carrying case, so it is a great gift idea.

The flashlight will light up the darkness as it uses the highest performance Cree XPL LED bulb and the lens is protected by very strong, tempered glass that has a two-sided anti-reflection coating. There are three brightness settings: low, medium and high, and the flashlight can reach 180 lumens at the highest setting.

The beam acts like a floodlight and it can reach up to 50 meters/164 feet, and it operates on just one AAA battery.

One of the highlights of this smart little flashlight, is its built-in intelligent active thermal programmatic control system (i3S-CU EOS PVD) that limits output on the high setting, so it will keep the high setting/180 lumens for 30 seconds and ramp down the power to 90 lumens to maximise battery life and to stop the LED bulb from overheating.

The Olight flashlight weighs in at 26.5g/0.93oz (excluding the battery), and it is easy to use, just twist the top in a clockwise position to change the settings. The carrying case also contains one AAA battery and the flashlight is covered by a Full 5 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. The only downside of the Olight is that the bulb's housing can come loose, after being turned on and off a few times, so make sure you check that the lid is secure.

What we like:

Very good value for money

Flawless Design

Elegant

Comfortable to hold

Attractive gold finish

Carrying case and pocket/belt clip

Durable

Highest waterproof rating of IPX8

Extremely bright light on high setting

Power saving technology to save bulb from overheating

What we don't like:

6. Nitecore TIP BLACK 360 Lumens USB Rechargeable Keychain Flashlight

The Nitecore TIP Black Keychain Flashlight is one of the brightest keychain flashlights on the market and it can produce a whopping amount of bright white light, and it gives you more control over the quality and intensity of the beam's lighting power to fit your indoor or outdoor conditions.

The beam's intensity is one of the highest at 360 lumens and Nitecore's special Precision Digital Optics Technology allows its beam to reach up to 80 yards away.

You can choose the level of brightness: 360 lumens (turbo), 150 lumens (high), 35 lumens (medium), and 1 lumens on the low setting. So whether you need to light up a path with a floodlight or use the flashlight for close-up work when you are doing some DIY tasks at home, the flashlight produces a reliable and constant source of lighting when you need it.

The flashlight is easy to use and features an innovative single-handed operation with a dual switch design that separates the on/off operation with the brightness mode selection button, and the very clever memory function remembers the lasting setting you have used. The setting can be reset by using the lockout mode and holding down both switches for 3-5 seconds.

The Nitecore is designed with a built-in USB charging port and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 90 minutes on the high setting and over 46 hours on the lower mode.

The keychain flashlight is very lightweight at 0.75oz and it is the size of a thumb USB drive, so it is one of the most compact, portable, and lightweight flashlights on the market. The outer material is made of HAIII military grade hard-anodized aluminum with a metallic finish, and the rear suspension ring is capable of sustaining 30kg of weight. It also has an impact resistance of up to 1.5 meters and has a water-resistant rating of IP54.

As well as being able to recharge the battery via the micro-USB port, the flashlight is prevented from overheating thanks to the advanced temperature regulator that automatically stops the flashlight from charging after it’s fully charged, even if you leave it plugged into the electricity socket.

If you are working outside or enjoying a camping trip and not able to access a power source or you do not have a portable solar panel, it is recommended that you use the flashlight on low mode and only use the higher settings sparingly, to conserve battery power.

For the fashion conscious, or if you want to give the flashlights out to the kids, the Nitecore flashlight comes in seven bright colors. Nitecore also includes a LumeTac USB charging cable, and a metallic key ring so that you can attach the flashlight to your keys, handbag or backpack.

What we like:

Very good value for money

Very bright light

Lightweight

Compact

Water resistant

Shock absorber up to 1.5 m

4 brightness settings

Smart memory function

Very good beam intensity

Rechargeable battery with micro USB port

What we don't like:

7. Pelican Progear 1810C Keychain Flashlight

If you are looking for an EDC keychain flashlight, the compact and super bright Pelican Progear flashlight is a great choice. Whether you need to change a flat tire, shed some light on your driveway, or need some extra light for a new DIY project at home, the Pelican keychain flashlight is tiny, but it is powerful. The 16 lumens light bulb gives you more than enough light to illuminate household duties, and the flashlight is very easy to use, with a simple on/off rotary switch that is located at the bottom of the light.

The solid casing is made from IPX4 water resistant aluminum and its sturdy steel clip can be attached to a lanyard, your belt, and you can even detach the hook and stand the flashlight on a table. This super little light is powered by 4 coin cell batteries that are included with the flashlight, and with six colors to chose from, this cute keychain flashlight is pretty stylish and affordable.

What we like:

Excellent price

High quality

Lightweight and compact

Powerful flashlight

Water resistant

Six colours

What we don't like:

Our Pick for the Best Keychain Flashlight

Olight i3S Brass Mini EDC Keychain Flashlight

There is a lot to love about this beautiful flashlight. It is made out of solid brass with an anti-scratch, long-lasting gold titanium coating. The high-intensity LED bulb gives you an extremely bright light that can reach up to 50 meters and Olight's intelligent power saving technology gives you maximum LED and battery life. As well as buying one for yourself, you may even want to buy one or two as gifts for family or friends as the flashlight comes in its own sturdy carrying case, and at an affordable price it is extremely good value for money.